Wednesday, February 6, 2013

HU Pharmacy students visit, advise at General Assembly

HU School of Pharmacy students and faculty stand outside the General Assembly Building on Virginia Pharmacy Day.

HU Pharmacy students visit, advise at General Assembly

Twenty-four Hampton
University School of Pharmacy students traveled to Richmond, Va. Jan. 30 to
participate in Virginia Pharmacy Day at the General Assembly Building. The
event is hosted annually by the Virginia Pharmacist Association and is a combination
of a health fair, and legislative visits with state representatives, to discuss
pharmacy-related issues.

HU School of Pharmacy Drs.
Antonio Carrion, Carl Tullio and Ebony Andrews took the trip with students.
Members of HU’s National Community Pharmacist Association (NCPA) developed
informational brochures on diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, to
disseminate to legislators. The group was honored as guests of HU Liberal Arts
Dean and United Sates Senator, Mamie Locke D-Hampton, during the Senate session.

The trip was an opportunity
for students to see the power of their voices, Andrews said.

“Meeting with the legislators
and sitting in on the House and Senate sessions allows them an opportunity to
voice their concerns and hopefully assist in the passage or denial of laws that
impact the profession, and the provision of care to the patients we serve,” she
said. “I want them to see they have the power to make a difference if they take
the time to get involved.

Pharmacy Student Brittany Lowe
was able to perform blood pressure checks on various people, including legislators,
during the General Assembly visit. She also gave advice to politicians, as she
witnessed them in the rush of their workday.

“I noticed that this
population … traveled from room to room in a very hasty manner. I detected that
their blood pressures were running very high,” she said. “Being in health care,
I strongly believe it is imperative to be able to interact with patients that
have different careers, and take into consideration the flow of their everyday
work environment.”

The health fair consisted of
cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure screenings. This year, a booth
to take back expired and unwanted medications was available to both legislators
and the public.

This experience can help
students become well rounded, Andrews said.

“I hope this trip inspires
our students to become more involved in the laws and regulations that affect
not only their profession as future pharmacist, but healthcare as a whole,” she
said.

Lowe said the experience was
eye opening to the health field’s political side.

“It gives students the
opportunity to learn about the different health care laws and bills that are
passed and can have an appreciation for health care from a political view instead
of only as a clinician,” she said.

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